The Open 2024 LIVE: Golf leaderboard and scores from round three as Shane Lowry chases Claret Jug

Here’s how the top of the leaderboard looks after two rounds of The Open. Lowry leads, but look at the star-studded chasers ready to pounce if he falters. Moving day is going to be fascinating.

Shane Lowry, Ireland;66-69;-7

Daniel Brown, England;65-72;-5

Justin Rose, England;69-68;-5

Dean Burmester, South Africa;71-69;-2

Billy Horschel, United States;72-68;-2

Scottie Scheffler, United States;70-70;-2

Patrick Cantlay, United States;73-68;-1

Corey Conners, Canada;71-70;-1

Jason Day, Australia;73-68;-1

Xander Schauffele, United States;69-72;-1

Matthew Jordan, England;71-71;I

Joaquin Niemann, Chile;71-71;I

Mackenzie Hughes, Canada;69-74;+1

Dustin Johnson, United States;74-69;+1

Brooks Koepka, United States;70-73;+1

Collin Morikawa, United States;73-70;+1

“I hit a great provisional,” Lowry explained. “The umpire asked me as I was coming out into the fairway if I wanted to find my first one, and I said no. So I figured that was OK.

“When we got down there, someone had found it, so you obviously have to go and identify it. I felt like during that whole process of those 20 minutes of seeing where I could fall, I was very calm and collected and really knew I was doing the right thing.

“And Darren (Reynolds, his caddie) did a great job too. He kept saying we’ve got a lot of time, we don’t have to rush this.

“To be honest, I was happy enough to leave there with a six. It wasn’t a disaster. I’ve felt pretty calm and collected the last few days. I’ve really felt in my comfort zone.

“Sometimes you’re in a frame of mind where you can handle it better than other times. This week it feels like that in my head, where I think I’m ready to take what’s coming, take what’s given to me there.

“Whatever comes my way, I feel like I’m ready to take it on and move on. If I give myself a chance on Sunday, I know I can do it and that’s as good a position as any to be in.”

Lowry felt he had completed the “hard part” on the 11th by getting his tee shot into play, but was distracted by a cameraman on his second stroke and hit the ball into the gorse.

After taking a penalty, Lowry hit his fourth ball about 10 feet to avoid bogey, but his original ball was found by a spectator.

That meant the ball was still in play and after a lengthy delay to determine where best to drop, Lowry hit his approach shot just short of the green and ultimately made a double-bogey six.

Former Ryder Cup player David Howell, the on-course commentator for Lowry’s group for Sky Sports, said the spectator who found the ball was “a bit embarrassed” when he realised Lowry’s intentions, adding: “He feels terrible.”

Shane Lowry believes he is ready to take whatever is thrown at him after keeping his bid for a second Open title firmly on course at Royal Troon.

Lowry added a second round of 69 to his opening 66 to take his total to seven under par and move two strokes ahead of English duo Justin Rose and Dan Brown, who both qualified for the 36-hole final earlier this month.